Letter from Governor Belcher to Andrew Johnston, one of the Council, and Samuel Nevill, Judge of the Supreme Court—relating to the imprisonment of Simon Wyckoff. Gentn [From Belcher Papers in Library of N. J. Hist. Soc.] ELIZ: TOWN April 11 1752 I understand one Cornelius' Wyckoff is Commited to Gaol in P. Amboy for High Treason and John' Waller the Gaol Keeper who is now with me says he has too much reason to believe the sd Wyckoff's Friends will attempt to deliver him out of Gaol by force I have therefore made out upon the Sheriff the inclosed Special Warrant that he may take the better care to have the Gaol well secured that he may still be safely kept in Custody and as you are Gent" of Superiour Order in this His Majestys Government I desire & expect from you that in your several Stations you do all in your power to encourage & protect the Sheriff in his Office that no insult or Outrage be committed on His Majestys Authority. I am with due Respect Gent Your Frd & Serv To the Honble And Johnston Esq One of His Maj- 1 Simon in margin. 2 William in Letter, John in margin. Letter from Governor Belcher to Samuel Nevillabout the riot at Perth Amboy. [From a copy among the Belcher Papers in Library of N. J. Hist. Soc.] ELIZ: TOWN April 14 1752 Sir JUDGE NEVILL I have just now recd yours of this day's date with the Affidavits and the particular Acct of the breaking open of Amboy gaol and taking out from thence Simon Wickoff who stood there Committed for High Treason and of the Rioters carrying him clear off wch is an Action of the highest & most Outrageous Insult upon the Kings Authority and demands the greatest resentment of all Persons in power in this Province that every possible step shou'd be taken for recovering the s Wickoff for the returning him into Gaol. I must observe that I think the Sheriff after Mr Johnstons and your sending for him has been too indolent & negligent in this matter for I don't find that he in any measure follow'd Col' Johnston & your Ad vice in order to repel such a violent proceeding. To be sure his under Officer Waller was guilty of the most unwarrantable breach of Duty in suffering the s Wickoff to be absent from the Gaol for three days together & really deserves the severest punishment the Law can inflict upon him. I think the method you propose for the more sure recovery of Wickoff is the most rational & feazible & therefore wou'd have the matter talkt of as little as may be. In the mean time I have ordered Mr Secry Read to Summon all the Members of the Council to meet me here without delay to advise with them what steps may be most prudent for Supporting the Kings Government of this Province & for bringing all the persons concerned in this late Outrage to Condign Punishment. I am with kind respects Honble Sir Your Frd & Serv J BELCHER. Letter from Governor Belcher to Mr. Secretary Read -about riot at Perth Amboy. Sir [From a copy among the Belcher Papers in Library of N. J. Hist. Soc.] ELIZ: TOWN April 14 1752 MR. SECRETARY READ. Mr Sheriff Deare is now with me and gives me the Account of the Rioters coming yesterday to Amboy Goal & in an Outrageous manner rescuing Samuel Wickoff who stood there committed for High Treason & of their carrying him clear off. Upon this Extraordinary insult on the Kings Authority of this Province I think it absolutely necessary to convene the Kings Council & it is therefore my order that you send forth a Notification to each Member with all possible dispatch that they meet me here at such a day as you judge the most remote of them can comply with the time you may set.' Notwithstanding there is an Order of Council for their quarterly Meeting yet this is an Affair of too high a nature to be delayed one day. I am Honoble Sir Your Frd & Serv J. BELCHER 1 Meeting was called for April 24th, but only three members attended; nothing was done.-ED. Letter from Judge Samuel Nevill to Governor Belcher -informing him of the result of the trial of Lewis Morris Ashfield. [From P. R. O. B. T., New Jersey, Vol. 7, H. 17.] Judge Nevills Letter relating to the Tryal of Mr Lewis Morris Ashfield PERTH AMBOY, April 17: 1752 May it please Your Excellency According to Your Request, I herewith send you, the most particular Account I am capable of Collecting from my Notes and Memory of the Tryal of Mr Lewis Ashfield at the Supreme Court of Judicature held in March last at Perth Amboy, upon an Indictment for a Misdemeanour, in speaking the following words to one John Hite, a Constable, to wit, God damn you, with your Kings Laws. John Hite deposed, That upon a Sunday some time in the Month of August last, about One or Two O'Clock, as he was coming home from Meeting at Cranberry, he heard some body swearing profanely That he went up to them, and desir'd them not to Swear: That M' Ashfield was in Company; but did not hear M Ashfield Swear, and that he seemed to be sober: That he reprimandedthem for Swear ing, and told them to have Regard to the Kings Laws: and Ashfield reply'd, Damn you WITH YOUR Kings Laws That he went up to them with Design to discharge his Duty, in reprimanding those that Swore: ard that he did not lay Hands on Ashfield before he struck him. Abraham Cottinam, (who then acted as Kings Attorney) deposed, That the Words, as given to him at first to draw the Indictment by, were, God damn you, AND THE Kings Laws too That he afterwards asked Hite, whether he was sure those were the Words; That Hite, after some Hesitation, said, That he, (meaning Ashfield) did not say so; but that he said, God damn you WITH YOUR King Laws and this he said before the Grand Jury Hite then being ask'd by the Court, What the Words were, which Ashfield spoke, replied he was sure they were Damn you, WITH YOUR Kings Laws. Humphry Mount deposed, That he was certain, that Ashfield said, Damn you, AND THE King: Laws. Jonathan Hankins deposed, That Ashfield said, God damn you, AND YOUR King Laws too. The Defendant then produced several Evidences, who deposed that they were present during the dispute, as Lookers-on, and no way engaged in the Affray. That they heard no such words spoken: & if they had been spoken, they shou'd have certainly taken Notice of them. Daniel Connor deposed in particular, That Hite grew warm, and said, he wou'd carry them (meaning Ashfield, Vanhorn, and Salter) to Amboy Gaol: That they Offered him Bail: & Hite said, he would take no Bail: And that Hite then laid Hands first upon Ashfield; & Ashfield struck him with his Whip: That Hite then call'd for Assistance; and then Mount and Hankins engaged in the Affray: That in the Skirmish, Hites Wife coming up and received a Stroke upon her Arm with a Whip from Ashfield Accidentally: And that upon her telling M Ashfield of it, he said, he was sorry for it; and gave the Woman a five and Thirty Shilling Bill. The last Particular was own'd by Hite; who said, M' Ashfield had made them full Satisfaction, and that he always took him to be a very Civil Gentleman, notwithstanding the Dispute which then happened between them. |